Drone Regulations

Complete guide to FAA rules, Part 107 certification, and legal requirements for drone pilots

⚠ FAA Part 107: Commercial Drone Operations

The FAA Part 107 rule (14 CFR Part 107) governs all commercial small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) operations in the United States. If you're using a drone for work, business, or any form of compensation, you must comply with Part 107 regulations.

Key Part 107 Requirements:

Requirement Details
Minimum Age 16 years old to obtain Remote Pilot Certificate
Knowledge Test Pass the FAA Aeronautical Knowledge Test at an FAA-approved testing center
Recurrent Testing Pass recurrent knowledge test every 24 calendar months
Background Check TSA security screening required before certificate issuance
Registration All drones 0.55 lbs (250g) to 55 lbs must be registered ($5 fee, valid 3 years)

🛡 Flight Operating Rules

All Part 107 operators must follow these operational limitations:

Altitude & Speed Limits

Parameter Limit
Maximum Altitude 400 feet AGL (or 400 ft above a structure if within 400 ft radius)
Maximum Speed 100 mph (87 knots) groundspeed
Minimum Flight Visibility 3 statute miles from control station
Cloud Clearance 500 ft below, 2000 ft horizontal from clouds

Operational Restrictions

  • Visual Line of Sight (VLOS): Must maintain unaided visual contact with drone at all times
  • One Drone Per Operator: One person can only operate one drone at a time
  • No Operations Over People: Cannot fly over non-participating persons without proper waiver or compliance with Category requirements
  • No Operations from Moving Vehicles: Except in sparsely populated areas
  • Daylight Operations: Only during civil twilight (30 min before/after sunrise/sunset) with anti-collision lighting, or daylight hours
  • Right of Way: Must yield right of way to all manned aircraft
  • No Careless/Reckless Operation: Standard safety requirement

🏛 Drone Registration

Recreational vs. Commercial Registration

Aspect Recreational (TRUST) Commercial (Part 107)
Registration Fee $5 (covers all recreational drones) $5 per drone
Validity 3 years 3 years
Weight Threshold 0.55 lbs (250g) to 55 lbs 0.55 lbs (250g) to 55 lbs
Marking Required Yes - registration number on drone Yes - registration number on drone
Test Required TRUST test (free, online) Part 107 Knowledge Test ($170 at testing center)

⚙ Waivers & Authorizations

The FAA offers waivers for certain Part 107 operational limitations through the FAA DroneZone:

  • Operations Over People: Requires compliance with specific safety categories
  • Operations at Night: Requires anti-collision lighting and recurrent training
  • Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS): Requires detailed safety case
  • Operations from Moving Vehicles: Requires specific operational plan
  • Multiple Drone Operations: Requires demonstration of safe control

LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability) provides automated approval for operations in controlled airspace up to 400 feet in many areas.

📜 State & Local Laws

In addition to federal FAA regulations, drone operators must also comply with state and local laws. These may include:

  • Privacy laws regarding aerial photography/video recording
  • Restrictions on flying over private property without permission
  • Park-specific drone bans (many national and state parks prohibit drones)
  • Local ordinances regarding drone noise or operating hours
  • Restrictions near critical infrastructure or emergency scenes

Always check local regulations before flying in a new area. The FAA preempts state regulation of airspace, but states can regulate land use and privacy.